Welsh word from Race Across the World added to OED

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In a recent update to the Oxford English Dictionary, a total of 10 Welsh words have been added, including some that left the producers of Race Across the World puzzled. One such word is “poody”, which means to sulk, and was explained by Fin Gough and Sioned Cray from Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire. Alongside “poody”, words like “nobbling” (meaning freezing) and “scram” (similar to scratch) were also included in the update, bringing the total of new words or senses added to 500.

“Poody” is considered a reborrowing or boomerang word by the OED, indicating that it had been borrowed from English into another language and then back again. Originating from the Welsh word “pwdu”, which means to sulk, “poody” combines the English word “pout” with the Welsh verb-forming suffix “-u”, and can also function as a noun. Fin and Sioned used this word during the 2025 series of BBC One’s Race Across the World, where they raced thousands of miles on a limited budget without flights, ultimately finishing third.

Additionally, the latest update to the OED features other Welsh words like “nobbling” and “scram”. “Nobbling” is used to convey that it is very cold outside, while “scram” is an obsolete English verb that persists in Welsh English to mean to scratch, especially with claws or fingernails. The OED also includes words like “diolch” (thank you), “nos da” (good night), “croeso” (welcome), and “shwmae” (hello or hi) in its latest update. Notably, “shwmae” has varying pronunciation and spelling depending on whether speakers are from north or south Wales

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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